Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-10
A Human Electric Battery.

A Human Electric Battery.
ANTON sAvKRNE CAN LIGHT HIS LAMP AND HIS PIPE
By SWAPPING HIS FINGERS.
From the Philadelphia Newh
Anton Saverne. a Belgian cabinet-maker. en-
ployed at Kensington ship-yard and living all
alone in the little frame house es2 Schleswig
street. has the wonderful power Of producing cleo
tr1c sparks by rubbing his fingers Saverne is 8
little swarthy fellow about forty years old, with
bushy head OF black hair, keen blue eyes-very
rare among his countrymen-and very small
hands. His motions prove that he is excessively
nervous, and his senses OF hearing, sight and
smell, as he assured reporter OF the Daily Ne,os
yesterday, are unusually acute. His parents still
the youngest OF family Of eleven children.
Il know not how do It." he said last evening, as
Lne reporter saw sparks shoot from Savernes
fingers. The cabinet-maker rubbed his lnger-tips
rapidly up and down upon his pantaloons- Then,
holding his hands out, with the fingers widely ex.
tended, Jets OF tiny yellow flames or long sparks
shOt out. They seemed propelled by some unseen
iorce 10 or IL inches into the air when they van.
ished. The right hand appeared more charged
left The lamp in seSernes front room%there s are
only two In the hOuse-was put out, so that the
sparks might be seenin all their brilliancy 1t was
headed Belgian rub his fingers and hold them out
while tiny showers OF bright sparks darted out as
II from toy fireworks
the lamp and his black pipe, filled with villainous
tobacco, at the same time. "When 1 was sick
Ccn years ago, twas SAID would Ole. lay very
weak one night in my fathers house when there
came up storm. Such thunder and lightning I
never knew before And my body had such queer
sensations. While lay, covered up with bed
clothes. my mother sat holding her face in her
hands by my side and seemed to feel Thousand
needles pr1cktng my limbs and chest and the soles
OF my feet. 1t was not painful for queer thrills
came with every prick, and when the thunder
rolled away and the rain stopped rose up, leaned
PACK, and put out my hand to take that OF my
mothers My eyes were closed, but heard her
cry, 'Antonr
"What?' gasped weakly.
Your hand
II looked at 1t. The one nearest to her. It was
alame COO preserve us. Twas terrified. My cry
Drought my father and sisters to the ROOM They
looked at me In horror. took my other hand
from the clothes to rub my right. Sparks shot
rom the fingers OF the lert Soon they died away
put have but to rub my hands as you have seen
and the lights come"
Saverne told OF the hardships brought upon him
ny 1ais singular faculty The neighborng peasants
IN belglum avoided him, and told awful stories Of
ms being In league With the devil. Men would not
nlre MIN 10 plough or In harvest time. His own
FAMILY chung to him, but the farm was small, and
ne came to this country five years ago. Here he
learned the cabnet-making trade and got employ
ment at finishing ship interiors. But, when his
companions saw his faculty, or infirmity they
treated him codly. His ignorant neighbors in
ScnleSWig street regard him as possessed OF an
evil spirit Savernes electric fingers the curse
OF his existence